Featured Wildlife Journeys

Arkaba

Arkaba is nestled amongst some of the most ancient mountain ranges on earth and is regarded by many as the most picturesque outback station in Australia.

Wild Bush Luxury bought the stunning property in 2009 with the African safari model in mind, to blend tourism and conservation in a mutually beneficial relationship. Under the leadership of founder Charlie Carlow, the property implemented a destocking program to remove sheep from grazing the region. By the year 2013, all sheep had been removed from the 60,000 acre property and Arkaba was officially developed into a wildlife conservancy.

The Arkaba team’s central tenet is to connect guests in the story of the land through knowledgeable and passionate field guiding. All guides have a background and interest in ecology and bring an infectious enthusiasm to showing guests the region. This is achieved through an interactive and interpretative approach, with guests taking part in tracking and identifying species, using habitat, geology and behavioural cues.

Outside of time spent with guests, staff work together on the conservation efforts with an associated sense of pride and achievement. This commitment has already yielded extraordinary results in relation to the re-establishment of numerous species including endangered endemic reptiles, birds and marsupials.

Arkaba’s sense of space and isolation ignites a spiritual connection with the land for many visitors, and a sense of the bond the indigenous Adnyamathanha people feel with it. Combined with Arkaba Homestead’s rustically chic accommodation (5 ensuite bedrooms) and exceptional personalised service, it is easy to understand why guests experience an insatiable desire to learn more about our distinctive flora and fauna and a sense of ownership to preserve this precious landscape.

About the region

Flinders Ranges

Arkaba is nestled amongst the ancient landscapes of the Flinders Ranges, famed for beautiful sculpted ranges, spectacular deep gorges, and striking river red gum creek lines. The intriguing blend of semi-arid to temperate habitats within these mountain ranges that cut into deserts of outback South Australia, has encouraged a huge diversity of wildlife and plant life, with about 1,200 species of plants and nearly 300 species of birds recorded within the ranges.

The geological history of the area is world-renowned and combined with the Aboriginal rock art, impressive fossil remains and European settlement history, is one of the most fascinating regions to visit across Australia.

Arkaba is one of the best locations in Australia to see Macropods due to the year round pockets of water and limited population of Dingoes. The largest living marsupial, the Red Kangaroo, is in very healthy populations, as are Western Grey Kangaroos and Common Wallaroos, which is uniquely adapted to rock out-crops of the Flinders.

The Flinders Ranges is famous for hosting Australia’s largest population of the endangered Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby with Brachina Gorge providing guaranteed sightings of this incredibly rare and beautifully decorated species.

Meet our guides

Meet our guides

Brendon Bevan

From the age of four years, Brendon was introduced to the glorious African outdoors when his father purchased a small game reserve in the North West Province of South Africa. It was here Brendon's love and passion for the environment was spawned! Later in life he enjoyed a career as a guide on many reserves and private lodges throughout the Southern African region with his guiding career taking him as far as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa. Brendon has been chief wildlife warrior, conservationist and...

Meet our guides

Brendon Bevan

From the age of four years, Brendon was introduced to the glorious African outdoors when his father purchased a small game reserve in the North West Province of South Africa. It was here Brendon's love and passion for the environment was spawned! Later in life he enjoyed a career as a guide on many reserves and private lodges throughout the Southern African region with his guiding career taking him as far as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa. Brendon has been chief wildlife warrior, conservationist and property manager of Arkaba since 2010. He is the public officer for Wildlife Tourism Australia and has been actively engaged with South Australian National Parks' 'Bounceback', a landscape scale conservation program. He has participated in programs to make Arkaba a role model conservation property as a buffer property on the edge of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park and also sits on the South Australian Natural Resources Management and Arid Lands Group, an interaction and sharing of ideas around natural resource management. Brendon loves applying a variation of the knowledge gained over years in Africa to an ever changing environment in the incredibly diverse ecosystems at Arkaba.

Meet our guides

Meghan Garty

Meghan began her guiding career with Arkaba in October 2015. Meghan has always had a passion for the environment and environmental issues which led her to study a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management at Charles Sturt University. A highlight of Meghan's degree was the opportunity to work with the Lord Howe Island Board as part of the Weed Eradication Program whilst also advising on and writing specific management plans for the Island. Following her graduation in 2014, Meghan became participant of the Green Army for Conservation Volunteers Australia...

Meet our guides

Meghan Garty

Meghan began her guiding career with Arkaba in October 2015. Meghan has always had a passion for the environment and environmental issues which led her to study a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management at Charles Sturt University. A highlight of Meghan's degree was the opportunity to work with the Lord Howe Island Board as part of the Weed Eradication Program whilst also advising on and writing specific management plans for the Island. Following her graduation in 2014, Meghan became participant of the Green Army for Conservation Volunteers Australia, working on environmental projects around the city of Melbourne. Since guiding at Arkaba, Meghan has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to expand her knowledge on the local flora and fauna species as well as the fascinating history and breathtaking geology that the Flinders Ranges is famous for. Meghan has a particular interest in the iconic Australian Macropod species that call Arkaba home. Meghan's time outside of work has involved a lot of travel, with her spending time travelling and volunteering in Cambodia, Thailand and India as well as participating in a university field trip to the remote regions on Nepal.

Meet our guides

Charlie Eager

Charlie got his first taste for guiding whilst volunteering at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. Charlie has always had a love for wildlife, conservation and the great outdoors. After completing high school, Charlie joined Wild Bush Luxury in the Top End at Bamurru Plains and began his career as a guide. From here he moved to Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia and also spent time over in Southern Africa gaining his FGASA and trails qualifications. Alongside his time spent guiding he has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Outdoor Recreation and...

Meet our guides

Charlie Eager

Charlie got his first taste for guiding whilst volunteering at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. Charlie has always had a love for wildlife, conservation and the great outdoors. After completing high school, Charlie joined Wild Bush Luxury in the Top End at Bamurru Plains and began his career as a guide. From here he moved to Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia and also spent time over in Southern Africa gaining his FGASA and trails qualifications. Alongside his time spent guiding he has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Outdoor Recreation and Ecotourism) and is currently furthering those studies. The time spent in the Top End has led Charlie to become fascinated with Australian birds and is a specialist for species found across Top End and Central Australia. Charlie's time outside of work is usually spent kayaking, rafting or hiking and camping in some of Australia's most remote regions.